Metro 'Sick-Out' is a Huge Bust: Report

WASHINGTON, DC — A threatened "sick-out" by Metro workers didn't materialize at all on Friday, and in fact there were fewer absences than usual, according to a report.

Adam Tuss of NBC 4 tweeted at 12:16 p.m. that the number of employees calling with unscheduled absences for the morning rush hour was less than two dozen, which is less than a normal day.

WMATA claimed earlier this week that about 500 employees had given them notice that they would be sick over the weekend in what was widely seen as a "sick-out" to put pressure on Metro to change its unscheduled leave policy, and as part of a broader contract battle between the union, ATU Local 689, and Metro leadership. ATU Local 689 denies that they organized any kind of "sick-out," but slammed Metro's sick leave policy.

WMATA denied all 500 requests for sick leave, but required supervisors to be ready for overtime shifts in the event that workers did not show up. The union slammed the move to reject the sick leave requests, and held a press conference Friday morning criticizing sick leave policy that "requires that workers call out of work 72 hours in advance if they need a sick day."

On Thursday, the larger battle between the union and WMATA leadership escalated when dozens of union workers walked out of a Metro board meeting chanting slogans. Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld, who was providing testimony at the time, is proposing to cut benefits and force the union to compete with private contractors.

BREAK: Metro says number of employees calling out w/ unscheduled absences for AM rush less than 2 dozen - less than normal day #wmata
— Adam Tuss (@AdamTuss) April 28, 2017

Image via WMATA